Registering device in the manufacture of paper boxes



Nov. 7, 1944. 5, s s 2,362,168

REGISTERING DEVICE IN THE- MANUFACTURE OF PAPER BOXES Filed July 13, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet l /IIIIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIl/l/ I N'VEI V TOR. JOHN 5152 015 25 ATTORNEY Nov. 7, 1944. v J. s. STOKES 2,362,168

REGIS'ZFERING DEVICE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER BOXES Filed July 13, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IVENTOR. Jazz/v SESTOKES Y WM? W ATTORNEY:

Nov, 7, 1944 s. STOKES 2,352,168

E.LTGISTER"...' 'DL 1,: L ME MANUFACTURE OF PAPER BOXES Filed July 13, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

JoHA S STOKES BY K ATTORNEY.

NOV. 7, 1944. J. 5 STOKES 2,362,168

REGISTERING DEVICE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER BOXES Filed July 13, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fly. 6.

INVENTOR. Joaw S. STOKES BY (JV- w wmzmg ATTORNEY.

J. S. STOKES Nov. 7,

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 15, 1945 I mb y x mm r. ll llh m 0 m %w\ @m. MQMMN mm, W m QM o -1 N N %%N N QWN wwwmm b I n mm QWw In T A Q N \aw I J %m v m Patented Nov 7, 1944 OFFICE,

REGISTERING DEVICE IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF PAPER BOXES John S. Stokes, Huntingdon Valley, Pa.

Application July 13, 1943, Serial No. 494,560

13 Claims.

My invention relates to systems in.which sheet material is applied to box blanks and has for an object the provision of a method and means for increasing the output of such a system. The

a wrapper which is then folded about, and adhesively secured to, the walls thereof. Preferably, while one mechanism is producing box blanks another mechanism is producing their wrappers. Automatic systems for assembling the box blanks and wrappers are disclosed in Stokes Patents Nos. 2,018,237 and 2,111,700. Fully automatic systems of the foregoing type possess many advantages and they have been used with considerable success. Semi-automatic systems have also been used but in their operation an operator has been required to segregate or remove the topmost box blank from a stack and to transport it to a wrapper and there register it in suitable position. The tendency of the box blanks to adhere one to the other because of buckling or interlocking of the sides has slowed down production, and sometimes the stack as a whole may topple or be pushed over. Because of unanticipated d'fliculties and the continuing concentration requiredproperly to register a box blank on a wrapper, fatigue and loss of efiiciency has further decreased production.

Heretofore, box blanks have been registered on wrappers by; locating first one corner and then another corner, thus requiring the operator not only to look to the stack when removinga box blank but also to concentrate on locating one corner of the box blank and then to turn her head and'to concentrate on locating a second corner of the box blank while holding the firstlocated corner in its correct position. Since in semi-automatic operation of such a system, only a short time interval is allowed for the foregoing operations, there is ever present the fear the box bank will not be accurately located by the time a transporting means functions to remove the wrapper and box blank from the assembly station. The result in the coursev of a working day is a gradually increasing number of inaccurately located box blanks or a decrease in the number of box blanks registered on wrappers per hour. The

lossin production is a direct reflection of the upon the operator.

It has been further proposed to utilize short conveyers and to transfer wrappers from one to the other. But these leave much to be desired because the wrappers curl and'may shift position during transfer from one conveyer to another. No satisfactory. arrangement of this character is known. v

In still other systems it has been proposed to register box blanks by pressing adjacent sides of each box blank against angular guides. Here the difliculty is that the precision required inrelative location of the angular guide and wrapper is as great as in an automatic system. The slightest amount of creep or stretch in the conveyer belt, back lash or looseness in the driving mechanism all prevent accurate registration of the wrappers with respect to the angular guide. Such systems to be satisfactory would require the complicated and expensive reregistering mechanisms which have made feasible automatic operation of box making systems.

Accordingly, in carrying out my'invention in one form thereof, I provide a system in which the operator with less fatigue may assemble box. blanks on their wrappers and at higher hourly and daily rates than heretofore and with exceedingly great accuracy. More particularly, the operator visually locates one end, generally the leading end, of a box blank on the wrapper, and, while .doing so rotatesthe opposite or trailing end of a box blank towards her until the side strikes a guide. As the box blank is abruptly stopped it is lowered or pressed against the wrapper which may be generally or selectively coated with adhesive to hold the box blank in place for transport to a wrapping station or machine. The operator visually locates one part of a box blank;

. the guide locates another part so that the box blank as a whole is brought into precise registration on the wrapper.

Preferably tabbed wrappersare spaced along. the length of a suction conveyer which automatically advances each wrapper to the assembly station while removing from the assembly station a box in registry on a wrapper. The conveyerdrive includes means for gradually. and smoothly accelerating from, and decelerating the wrappers to, positions of standstill to avoid shifting of wrappers on the conveyer both before and after registration of box blanks thereon. The slow starting and stopping means also avoids wear and tear on the conveyer mechanism as a whole.

The guide itself is supported from an adjustable cantilever arm with a guiding face parallel to the line of travel of the wrappers. The guide in no way interferes with movement of assemblies of box blanks on their wrappers from the assembly station. Thaguide also carries a light so directed as toilluminate the leading end of each wrapper. Besides making it easier for the operator to see the only point with which a box blank must be visually and manually placed in registry, the beam directs her attention to that point. The beneficial result is that less concen tration is required in visually locating a comer of a box blank on a wrapper,

My invention further resides in the features of construction, combination, and arrangement lustrating the manner in which box wrappers are accurately located on a conveyer;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view at the; assembly station of a system embodying my invention;

Fig. 4 is a fractional perspective view illustrating the manner in which a beam of light is directed upon a part of a box wrapper;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, and with certain parts broken away, of one end of the conveyer, of the wrapper feeding means, and of the slow starting and stopping intermittent drive for the conveyer; this view is taken on the lines 55 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation looking into the end of the conveyer and its driving mechanism;

and

Figs. 7 and 8 are fractional views of a modified form of my invention in which like parts have like reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, a preferred form of my invention includes a box making system of the type shown in Fig. 1. More particularly, a machine I generally of the type shown in Bailey Patent No. 2,276,683, comprises a means for feeding box wrappers to a conveyer H which transports them to a wrapping machine i2. The machine l2 may be the type shown in Bailey Patent No. 2,262,788. Intermediate the ends of conveyer II and the machines l0 and i2, is located a machine I3 which may be of the type shown in Federwitz Patent No. 2,295,461, which bends the side panels of each box blank along predetermined score lines. The machine is provided with means for delivering them to an assembly station It comprising the region within manual reach of an operator located as indicated by the stool or chair I5.

The machines i0, i2, and I3 preferably operate in timed relation one to the other, and with the conveyer il. livers wrappers in succession to the conveyer H which functions intermittently to stop each wrapper at the assembly station l4. During these operations, the bending machine l3 functions to produce a box blank and to deliver it to the assembly station. The operator, in manner later -to be described, places the box in registry with Normally the machine III deple, by means of a peddle-operated lever i8 initiation or interruption of the operation of the wrapping machine I2 may be effected. Similarly by operation of a peddle I! the machine l0 may skip the delivery of a wrapper and by operating a control lever [8 the operation of the bender l3 may be interrupted for one or more cycles of operation. These features of control are described and claimed in my copending application, Serial Number 422,197, filed December 9, 1941, and entitled Box wrapping systems.

Referring to Fig. 2, a stack S of wrappers is shown supported on a platform l9. Vertical guide rods l9a engage the wrappers to hold them in definitely aligned positions. For example, the wrapper supporting platform and the guide rods therefor may be of the type shown in Federwitz et al. Patent No. 1,770,483. By means of a suitable feeding mechanism such for example as shown in Bailey Patent No. 2 276,683, the wrappers are successively fed from the stack S through feed roll guide plates 20 and between the roll 2| and adhesive bearing roll 22. The adhesive applying roll 22 uniformly coats the surface of each wrapper with a suitable adhesive and each wrapper, such for example as the wrapper 23, as it leaves the feed roll 22 comes into engagement with one end of the conveyer H, which is provided with means for maintaining the wrappers flat against and in fixed position on the conveyer belt 25. Thus wrappers 26 and 21, and those following, are always in predetermined fixed positions on the conveyer belt 25. At the assembly station l4, additional guiding means, such for example as rollers 28, may be provided to predetermine the line of travel of each wrapper.

Preferably, the wrappers are held against the conveyer belt by suction produced by an exhaust fan or suction pump (not shown). This conveyer may be of the general type shown in Davis Patent No. 1,818,198, or Stokes Patent No. 1,701,317. Such a conveyer includes a suction box 29, some of the details of which are shown in Fig. 3. The top of the box 29 has extending across it a relatively rigid perforated steel plate 30 which, besides providing relatively wide openings 30a, presents a smooth surface over which the conveyer belt 25 slides. The conveyer belt itself is provided with a plurality of relatively small openings 3| through which air is withdrawn by the suction pump which is connected to the interior of the suction box 29. In this manner, as each wrapper, such for example as the wrapper 23 of Fig. 2, is fed-'onto the end of the conveyer, the lower pressure within the suction box 29 causes the atmospheric pressure to press the wrapper smoothly against the belt 25 and thereafter to hold it in place.

By means of a driving mechanism, later to be described, the conveyer belt 25 is gradually decelerated to standstill with the wrappel 26 in predetermined position at the assembly station l4. As shown in Fig. 3 the leading end of the, wrapper 26 comes to rest materially in advance of the end of a side guide in the form of a smooth plate 32, carried by a cantilever support 33. This support terminates in a wide base portion 34and is carried on a pair of slide rods 35 and 36, in turn supported by brackets 31 and 38. By means of an adjusting screw 39 the support 33 and guide 32 may be moved to any desired position transversely of the direction of travel of the conveyer belt 25. A knurled knob 40 secured to the adjusting screw 39 provides a convenient means for adjusting the position of the guide 32 the respective notches of-the wrapper 26.

and a locking screw 4| is provided rigidly to secure or lock it in a fixed predetermined position.

In Fig. 3, a box blank 42 is shown in registry on the wrapper 26. A box blank 43 has been delivered to a shelf or delivery station 44 which extends above and somewhat over the conveyer belt 25. On the outermost end of the shelf 44, a strip 45 of sandpaper, felt, rubber, or other material having a high coeflicient of friction, is suitably secured and functions to bring to standstill each box blank as delivered by a conveyer 46 which extends to the bender or machine i3, shown in Fig. 1. A box blank 41 is shown'positioned on the conveyer 46. It is to be observed the shelf or platform 44 may be adjusted transversely of the conveyer belt 25 and secured in any desired position by reason of the provision of the slots 48 through which extend locking bolts 49-.

As viewed in Fig. 3 the leading and left hand corner of the box blank 42 coincides with the apex of a notch 26a, Fig. 4, while the adjacent side of the box extends parallel to the line of travel of the conveyer, belt 25. As a matter of I fact, the sides of the box blank 42 correspond exactly with lines interconnecting the apices Sue lines are indicated on the wrapper 26, as seen in Fig. 2, and represent the outermost edges of the box blank 42. Therefore, it will be seen that the panels of the wrapper 26, when folded about the box blank 42, will come into exact correspondence with its sides and ends. To provide additional support for the corners of the finished box. I

prefer to provide the side panels of each wrapper with tabs T. These are so located as to serve as reinforcements for the wrapper 26. particularly along the comer edges of the box. Tabbed wrappers of this character may be produced as disclosed in Rider Patent No. 1,857,260. V

The guide 32 is adjustable longitudinally of the arm 33 by means of a tongue on theguide 32 which interlocks with a complementary groove in the arm 33. The guide 32 is fixed in the des red position by a locking screw 5|, Fig. 4. The leading end of the guide or supporting arm 33 carries a spotlight or illuminating means 52 for directin a beam of light on the notch 26a of wrapper 26.

nation. By well understood principles. her eyes naturally look at once to the area having a distinctively greater illumination, as indicated in Fi 4. The spotlight 52 is shown under the control of a switch 54, with a flexible wire cable 55 interconnecting the spotlight and the switch 54. This cable rests upon the. web part of the guide 33.

In accordance with my invention the operator locates a box blank on a wrapper with a minimum number of motions and with minimum requirements of concentration and coordination. The position of the box blank 42 with respect to the wrapper as shown in Fig. 3 is representative of the accuracy with which box blanks are located. After registration of the box blank 42, the conveyer belt 25 moves the wrapper 23 and the box blank 42 to the left and away from the forming an integral 5 21 into position, the operator pulls or takes the box blank 43 from the platform or station 44 and transports it toward the guide 32. By the time this is done, the notch 21a of wrapper 21 occupies a position coinciding with that shown for notch 26a and it is strongly illuminated, as above explained. The operator, with a continuing movement. moves the left hand corner of the box blank 43 into registration with the apex of notch 21a. Her arms come to rest upon a ledge or support 56 and without interrupting the movement of the box blank 43, she moves her right hand to rotate the box blank toward the flat smooth surface of guide. As the side of the box blank strikes the uide '32, this rotary movement is abruptly stopped and the operator then knows that the box blank is in accurate registration.

With confidence, she then lowers and lightlypresses the box blank 43 onto the wrapper 21.

The conveyer then repeats its above described movement during which the operator reaches for Her attention is entirely directed toward the one corner of the box, the guide taking care of the registration of the adjacent side. By predetermining the line of travel of the conveyer belt 2!, as by means of the rollers 23. to insure the accurate registration on the conveyor of the wrappers, and by locking the guide 32 in a position corresponding with the line of travel of a side of each box blank in registration on its wrapper. box blanks may, with great rapidity, be placed in accurate registration on their wrappers. The mental strain upon the operator and the concentration required of her is greatly reduced, in fact to such extent that skillful operators may now assemble box blanks up to the rate of or more per minute and of the order of 3,000 or more to see if the panels have been properl bent by the machine II, and whether the box blank is in other respects free from imperfections. If an imperfect blank is discovered, it may be tossed aside and another. box blank registered on the wrapper. Likewise she serves as inspector for wrap pers and does not register a box blank on wrappers which for some unforeseen reason may be defective. Because of the possibility of the foregoing occurrences and other unexpected happenings, it will be understood the hourly rate may be somewhat less than sixty times the rate per minute. Nevertheless, the rate per minute, the hourly rate, the daily rate, and the weekly rate are exceedingly high and materially above corresponding rates for semi-automatic machines of the Driorart.

the next box blank 41 which has been moved for short runs for production of wrapped boxes of different sizes, the output is greater than that achieved under like conditions by fully automatic different size. The change-over time is generally three times as great as with a system embodying my invention. Insofar as the assembly station is concerned, adjustments may be-readily and quickly made. The locking bolts 49 are loosened and the platform 44 i moved to its new position. For a larger box, it is moved away from the guide 32 and for a smaller box it may extend outwardly and above the conveyer belt 25 to a somewhat greater degree than shown in Fig. 3. The guide 32 is readily moved to its new position by loosening the locking screw 4| and turning the knob 40 until the frontface' of the guide 32 is in alignment with the path of travel of the side of the box blank to be utilized in the new run. Screw 4! is then tightened and the assembly station as a whole is ready for operation. The new run is initiated as soon as the machines l0, I2,

and I3 have been changed over for a new size of wrapper and box blank.

It will be observed, Fig. 5, that the suction box 29 is provided with an extension a having a pointed end which terminates adjacent an idler roll 51. The belt then passes around driving rolls 58, 59, and B0. The stack S of wrappers is preferably located beneath the above described end of the conveyer belt 25 and by means of a suction head 6!, operable intermittently by a link 62 and bellcrank 63, wrappers are lifted in succession into position for engagement between a driving roll 54 and a drive roll 65. The drive roll is carried by an arm 66 which provides for movement of the roll 65 toward and away from the driving roll 54. Thus, when the suction head 6! lifts the top wrapper from stack S, the roll 65 is in a position to the right of its illustrated position in Fig. 5. As the leadin end of the wrapper 61 approaches the driving roll 64 the roll 65 moves against it and it is then moved upwardly between the guide plates 20. It passes between rolls 88 and 69 and is guided by roll 2| into intimate contact with the adhesive bearing roll 22.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the entire face of each wrapper is uniformly coated with adhesive, although a selective application of adhesive may be utilized, if, desired. Each adhesively coated wrapper engages stripper plates 10 which remove 7 the wrapper from the roll 22, and deflect it onto the,conveyer belt 25 where it isheld in fixed position by the suction means heretofore described. l

It is emphasized that throughout the transport of wrappers from the stack S to the assembly station they are always under positive control. Thus the stack S is not only located in a, prede termined position, but the wrappers are also hel by guide rods I9a so that eac rapper occupies the same position and is carried by the rolls 64 wrapping machine l2 assists in eliminating errors in registration of box blanks on their wrappers. The assembly station [4 intermediate the ends of conveyer ll provides for an operator on one side of the conveyer and for the delivery of box blanks from the opposite side thereof. The accuracy of the line of travel of the wrapper with respect to the guide 32 is insured by rollers 28. Thus the present system incorporates these many desirable features of positive control of wrappers and box blanks while retaining the substantial advantage of semi-automatic operation.

Referring to Fig. 6, any suitable driving means for the foregoing operations may be provided, for example, power may be applied through a belt carried by a driving pulley I2. As shown, this pulley is provided with an interiorly mounted clutch l3 biased to a driving position by a spring 14, and operable by a rod 15 out of driving engagement. The drive shaft 16 has a spiral gear Tl at one end, which gear meshes with a spiral gear 18, carried by a stub shaft 19. The opposite end of shaft 19 carries a worm (not shown), which meshes with a worm gear 8|, carried by and freely rotatable upon shaft 82. The worm gear 8| is provided with an inner portion which forms one part of a one-way single cycle clutch, the other part 83 of which is keyed to the shaft 82. This clutch includes a. dog or latch which may be released manually, for example, by the foot treadle I! of Fig. 1, or automatically, to initiate the cycle of the sheet feeding mechanism l0 shown in Fig. 1, and details of which are shown in Figs. 5 and 6. This dog or latch, the details of which are fully disclosed in my Patent No. 2,092,479, is reset at the end of each cycle by a stop, which is retractable for the initiation of the next cycle. The inner clutch member 83 is provided with a cam track 84 into which extends a cam follower (not shown). The cam follower and the arm carrying it operate the arm 99, Fig. 5, to move the feed roll into and out of engagement with the driving roll 64. The link 92, Fig. 5, has one end connected to the suction head and its other end is operatively connected to a cam followerwhich cooperates with a track provided in a cam 86, Fig. 6, keyed to the shaft 82.

For a more detailed description of the foregoing additional auxiliary mechanism, reference may also be had to, said Bailey Patent No. 2,276,683.

The intermittent, slow-starting and stopping drive for the-conveyer belt 25 may best be described by starting at the shaft 82, Fig. 5. A hub 88 is keyed to shaft 82 and forms a part of a bifurcated member, or fork, one arm 89 of which is somewhat-shorter than the other arm 99.

Freely rotatable upon the hub is a driving gear 92 with a pair of lugs or stop members 93 and 94 at one side thereof and a second pair of lugs or stop members 95 and 96 diametrically opposite the first pair. The member 93 is shown in abutting engagement with a stop 91 resiliently held in position by a spring which engages a plunger 98, itself carried by an arm pivoted at 98a. and resiliently biased to the position shown in the drawings. This stop 91 prevents forward, or counter-clockwise, movement of gear 92. A pivotdly mounted latching member 99 biased by spring I00 to an engaging position cooperates with an inclined portion of the stop 93 to prevent backward or clockwise movement of the gear 92. The stop 91 and the latch 99 are carried by a cam IOI mounted concentric with the shaft 82 and rotatable independently thereof. Normally it is clamped, Fig. 6, by a bolt 102 against the inner face of the housing I03. Its angular position may be varied, within the limits of the slot I03, Fig. 5, by rotating a stub shaft I04 which has a gear I05 in mesh with a segment of a. gear I06 secured to the cam IOI.

In Fig. 5, the outline of the cam track is clearly indicated and a cam follower I01 is shown connected by a link I08 to a pin I09 which extends between the arms 89 and 90, As the shaft 82 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction, an inclined surface 90a of the arm 90 engages a roller I I0 to move the arm to the left or counter-clockwise about pivot 98a and hence to move the stop 91 out of engagement with the lug or member 93. During this movement, the cam follower I01 follows along a substantially circular portion of the cam track. But as it approaches the inclined surface 93a, which extends across the track, it will be observed that the follower I01 is moved rapidly to the right or toward the shaft 82 and in front of the member 94. This movement is provided for by the pivotal connection of the link I08 with the pin I09. As soon as the cam follower I01 engages the inclined surface 93a, the gear 92 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction.

' It is under positive control because the cam follower I01 is then nesting between lugs 93 and 94 carried by the gear 92. The gear 92 is slowly accelerated by reason of the pivotal movement of the link I08 about its pivot I09, which relative movement is provided for by the inclined surface 93a of the lug or member 93. This plane surface 93a extends in a direction such that a trace thereof extended to the center of shaft 82 is tangent to a circle of the same diameter as the cam follower I01. The net effect is the same as though the link I08 were gradually lengthened or in terms of movement of the gear 92 it is gradually and smoothly accelerated from standstill to its normal speed. Stated differently, the pivoted end of link I 08 moves through a greater number of degrees than does the follower I01 during its movement across or relative to the surface 93a. The relative'movement thus provided results in the smooth acceleration of gear 92. After the follower I01 moves into the circular portion of the cam track, the gear 92 is rotated at a constant speed. The rotation of gear 92 is transmitted to conveyer belt 25 through a gear train which includes the gears I I I to I I6 inclusive.

During the aforesaid rotation of the gear 92, the lugs 95 and 96 move toward the positions occupied by lugs 93 and 94 in Fig.5. However, as the lug 99 approaches the stop 91, the cam follower I01 has reached a position approximately where the lug 95 is illustrated in Fig. 5. At that point the cam track is directed inwardly toward the shaft 82. In consequence, the follower moves inwardly and the link I00 is rotated about its Di ot in a clockwise direction and the follower is moved across the surface 93a. This time the gear 92 moves through a lesser number of degrees than does the pivoted end of link I09 by, reason of the rotation of the link and the movement of the follower across surface 93a. In terms of rotation of gear 92, this produces smooth deceleration thereof. Provision is thereby made for slow or smooth acceleration and deceleration of the gear 92 from positions at standstill. The inward movement of follower I01 is insured by reason of the shape of the cam track. Again, the nesting of the cam follower I01 between the stop members or lugs 93 and 94 provides at all timesmore positive control of all of the movements of gear 92 and the cam follower I01. It prevents rebound and irregularity inrotation of the gear .92. In consequence, the lug 96 does not strike the stop member 91 to produce an abrupt stopping of the conveyer belt 25. On the contrary that belt smoothly decelerates and the lug 96 thereafter strikes the stop 91 without undue shock, and any shock present is absorbed by spring biased plunger 98. At that time, the movement of the cam follower I 01 toward the shaft 82 has been suflicient to produce disengagement entirely between it and the inclined surface 930.

When the cam follower I01 moves out of engagement with the surface 93a, the gear 92 is then at standstill and it remains so during the continued movement of the cam follower I01 in the track of the cam ml, and until the surface 9011 again has functioned to release the latch comprising the stop member 91. The cam track after disengagement of the follower I01 with a driving lug serves to return the cam follower to its original position, preparatory to another cycle of op erations. f

It is again emphasized that as the cam follower I01 disengages surface 9311, the stop member 96 has moved to the position occupied by the stop member 93 as shown in Fig. 5 and the latch 99 has functioned to engage it and to prevent rebound of gear 92 and of conveyer belt 25. Hence it will be seen that at all times the gear 92 is either locked in position at standstill, or a positive driving connection is effective i. e., one which avoids backlash or lost motion during the positive drive thereof. During the time the gear 92 and the conveyer belt 25 is at rest, the operatorremoves a box blank from the platform 44 and registers it on a wrapper in manner already described in detail. Each wrapper comes to rest generally in a line with the positions occupied by the boX blanks delivered by the-conveyer 46 to the platform 44, Fig. 3. When the system is changed over for manufacture of bOXes differing in size from the last run, particularly in length, adjustments must be made. Due to the dependently timed operation of the gluer or adhesive applying machine 10 including the feeding mechanism, and the wrapping machine I2, the transversecenter lines of the wrappers, regardless of size, should occupy the same positions on conveyer. belt 25. To meet this condition a shorter wrapper requires movement of the conveyer at a later time in the cycle and for a longer wrapper the conveyer movement lsinitiated at an earlier time and in each case such that the center lines of the wrappers delivered from stripper blades 10 always occupy identical positions.

This adjustment is readily made. necessary to loosen the bolt I02 and to turn the stub shaft I04 in the correct direction. The cam I 0| is thereby rotated and its track moved relative to the follower I01. When the cam I III is moved in a clockwise direction, the inclined surface 93a is moved by stop 91 toward the follower I01. Hence the conveyer movement will thereafter he initiated earlier. I For the shorter wrappers, the cam I0! is rotated in the opposite direction and the conveyer movement is later It is only initiated, that is, the shaft 82, and the follower justed so that its leading end will not obscure from the operator the leading end of each wrapper. It is to be understood the light 52 is adjustable within its stationary housing to center the beam upon the leading end or notch of wrappers of each different size.

Referring to Fig. 6 it will be observed that the conveyer drive includes a one-way clutch I20, the right hand member of which is keyed to. and slidable upon a stub shaft 121 and is spring biased into engagement with the other member of the clutch. By swinging a-rod I22 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5, the right hand end of the conveyer belt 25 and the extension of the suction box 25a may be rotated upwardly and away from the wrapper feeding mechanism. Duringthis rotation clutch operating members I23 engage an inclined surface I24 for movement of the right hand clutch member to a disengaged position. These provisions are included to assist in rapid adjustment of the wrapper feeding mechanism and to provide a ready means of removing any wrappers which might. possibly be defective or for some other reason might failproperly to pass through the feeding rolls. Reference may be had to Bailey Patent No. 2,276,683 or to Federwitz Patent No. 1,741,412 for detailed description of similar mech- ,anisms.

In the foregoing description, reference has been out need to concentrate on visual registration of the box blanks. She registers them by their "feel against the ide guide 32 and the end guide plate I50. Should the conveyer belt 25 stop a wrapper earlier than it should or ina lagging position, th operator, by exerting pressuretupon the plate I50, moves it rearwardly and locates the box blank in exact registry on'its; wrapper.

Should the conveyer'belt25 stop a wrapper later than it should, the leading corner is first registered and the side guide 32 utilized as described above. A quick glance at the wrapper as the box blank is placed in position produces autoference would be negligible and of no consequence insofar as the operator is concerned, such a difference is of paramount importance in the operation of a fully automatic system. For that reason, additional registering mechanism is required in the operation of such systems. But in accordance with the present invention such additional and complicated mechanisms are not rematic responseby the operator in completing the assembly in the correct manner. In each case the box blank 42a is registered on its wrapper 42b as shown in Fig. '7.

It will be observed the guide plate I is car-.

ried by' a plunger I5I slidable within a housing I52. A spring I53 biases the plunger to the illustrated position, a pin I54 engaging the housing and functioning as a stop. The housin as a whole is carried by a side plate 32a. adjustable relative to its supporting arm 33. A tongue'and' groove may be provided with clamping screws I 55 arranged to slide .within slots I56 provided in the supporting arm 33 and which screws threadedly engage side plate 324:. For a larger box the side plate 32a. and the end guide I50 are moved to the right as viewed in Fig. '7 while the guide'32 is moved to the left. For a smaller box the aforesaid movements are in opposite directions. It is again emphasized the movement of 'guide plate I50 against the bias of spring I53 is intended for the relatively infrequent failure of the box wrappers properly to b registered beneath side guide 82 and the end guide I50.

While I have described preferred embodiments of my invention and have made reference to other machines or mechanisms utilizable in conjunction therewith, it is to be understood I intend by wrappers from said means and operable to transport them to said assembly station, means for holding each wrapper m predetermined position on said conveyer from the tim it is received by the conveyer belt however minimizes irregularity in the stopping of the conveyer. It does not tend to over-travel. orunder-travel and the wrappers for long periods of time do come to rest in exactly the same position at the transfer station. Therefore, as shownin Figs. '7 and 8 a modification of my invention may be utilized. The side guide 32 at its trailing end is provided with a resiliently mounted end guide in the form ofa plate I50 which coincides in position with the trailing end of each box blank as it is registered on a wrapper. In accordance with this modification, the operator normally brings the adjacent sides of each box blank, against guide 32 and the plate I50 as,

wrappers so that an operator may motion with- (I said conveyer until registration of a box blank thereon, and a guide atsaid assembly station extending over said conveyer and having at least one face parallel to the line of travel of said conveyer and positioned at all time with respect to the wrappers carried by said conveyer so as to facilitate manual registration of a box blank on a wrapper, said guide having no portion extending into the path of travel of said conveyer in manner to interfere with movement of a box blank in registry on a wrapper.

2. In a box making system having means for applying tabs andadhesive to box wrappers, the combination of an assembly station for the manual registration of box blanks with respect to their tabbed wrappers, a conveyer receiving adhesively coated wrappers from said means and.

operable to transport them to said assembly station, said conveyer including means for applying suction to each adhesively coated wrapper to hold hesive-applyingmeans and during registration at said assembly station of a box blank thereon, and a guide at said assembly station positioned at all times with respect to the wrappers carried'by said conveyer so as to facilitate manual registration of a box blank on a wrapper, said guide having no'portion extending into the path of travel of said conveyer in manner to interfere with movement vof a box blank in registry on a wrapper.

3. In a box making system having mechanism for applying adhesive to wrappers, and mechanism for applying adhesively coated wrappers to mechanism, said adhesive-applying mechanism including means for delivering in succession ad,

hesively coated wrappersto said conveyer, suction means for holding said wrappers in fixed veyer, and driving mechanism for moving wrappers to, and'wrappers with box blanks from, said guide-and for maintaining a wrapperin predetermined relation with respect to said guide until registration of a box blank on said wrapper, said driving mechanismincluding means for smoothly decelerating said conveyer as each wrapp r closely approaches said station and for smoothly ac-, celerating said conveyer after registration of a box blank on a wrapper.

I. A high speed system of assemblingtabbed wrappers and box blanks which comprises, a contnuous conveyer having means for holding a plu rality of tabbed wrappers flat upon, and spaced from eachother along the length of, said conveyer, each wrapper having its upper face portion, adhesively coated, a guide, means adjustably sup-- porting said guide over said conveyer and in predetermined relation with the lineof travel of said position on said conveyer for transport to said assembly. station,'a guide at said station to facilitate manual registration of a box blank on a wrapper, said guide including a guiding face par-. allel to and coinciding with the path of travel of a part of a wrapper at said transfer station and having no portion extending into the path of travel of said conveyer in manner to offer resistance or obstruction of continued movement by said conveyer of a box blank registeredon its wrapper, said guiding face forming a stop for one side of a box blank during manual registration thereof.

4. A system of assembling box blanks in registration with adhesively coated tabbed wrappers which comprises, a conveyer for said wrappers, means for delivering box blanks to an assembly station intermediate the ends of said conveyer, and a guide at said station extending over said conveyer and the wrappers carried thereby and having portions so disposed as to act as stops for only the rear and side edges of a box blank manually placed in registration on a wrapper, and means for operating said conveyer for movement from said station without interference from said guide of a wrapper and a registered box blank adhesively secured thereto,

5. A system of assembling wrappers and box blanks which comprises, a conveyer for the box wrappers, a guide extending over said conveyer and the wrappers carried thereby so disposed as to act as a stop for at least one side of a box.

blank manually placed in registration on a wrapper, and driving means for said conveyer operable to maintain a wrapper in predetermined relation with respect to said guide for a time interval sufficient for said manual registration of a box blank thereon and also operable to move the wrapper and registered box blank away therefrom, said guide having no portion extending into the path of travel of said conveyer in manner to interfere with movement by said conveyer of said box blank in registry on a wrapper.

wrappers, said guide having portions for engag-" ing only the rear and side edges of a box blank, means op'eratively engaging said conveyer to fix the line of travel of said conveyer with respect to said guide, means for delivering box blanks one.

after the other to positions for convenient manual transfer to the wrappers onsaid conveyer, and driving mechanism for stopping each wrapper beneath said guide with a smooth deceleration to, and acceleration from, standstill, whereb a box blank manually registered on a wrapper during standstill is not thereafter dislodged by abrupt starting and stopping of said conveyer.

8. A system of asesmbling wrappers andbox blanks which comprises, a first conveyer having means for holding a plurality of tabbed wrappers flat upon, and spaced from each other along the length of, said conveyer, each w"? )per having its upper face portion adhesively :uated, a guidej means adjustably supporting said guide over said conveyer and in predetermined relation with the line of travel of said wrappers, said guide having portions for engaging only the rear and side edges of a box blank, means operatively engaging said conveyer to fix the line of travel of said conveyer with respect to said guide, a secondconveyer for delivering box blanks one after the other to a position for convenient manual transfer to the] wrappers on said firstconveyer, an arm rest for the arms of an operator during manual registration of a box blank on a wrapper, and driving mechanism for stopping each wrapper beneath said guide.

9. A system of assembling box blanks in registration-with their wrappers which comprises, a continuous conveyer for said wrappers, an assembly station intermediate the ends of said conveyer, means for driving said conveyer to bringwrappers to standstill at said station, said driving means producing accurate stopping of each wrapper in a predetermined position at. said station,

and guiding structure for box blanks located at said station, said structure having a side guide coinciding with the position occupied by a side of a box blank on a wrapper and an end guidecoinciding with the position of the rear or trailing end of said box blank. 10. A system of assembling box blanks in registration with their wrappers which comprises, a

continuous conveyer for said wrappers, an assembly station intermediate the ends of said conveyer, means for driving said conveyer to bring wrappers to standstill at said station, said means producing accurate stopping of e sch wrap per in a predetermined position at said station, and guiding structure for box blanks located at said station, said structure having a side guide coinciding with the position occupied by a side oi a box blank on a mapper and an end guide coinciding with the position of the rear or trailing end of said box blank, and yieldable means for manual displacement of said end guide in the event a wrapper is brought to standstill prior to arrival at its said predetermined position.

11. A system of assembling bent box blanks in registration with adhesively coated tabbed wrappers which comprises, a belt conveyer for said wrappers, said conveyer including means for applying suction to each adhesively coated wrapper -'to hold it in predetermined position thereon, a

ping said conveyer for registration or a box blank on a wrapper. v

12. A system of assembling bent box blanks in registration with adhesively coated tabbed wrappers which comprises, a belt conveyer for said wrappers, said conveyer including means for applying suction to each adheslvely coated wrapper to hold it in predetermined position thereon, a

' guide located at an assembly station and positioned at all times over said conveyer with respect to the wrappers carried by said conveyer so as to facilitate manual registration of a box blank on a wrapper, said guide having an open side in the direction oi. travel of the conveyer to permit unobstructed travel of each assembly of box blank and box wrapper on the conveyer in the direction beyond said guide, driving means for said conveyer for bringing it to standstill with each wrapper in registration beneath said guide and for within manual reach of said assembly station for manual transfer and registration of each box blank with said wrapper.

13. A system of assembling box blanks in registration with adhesively coated tabbed wrappers which comprises, a conveyer for said wrappers, means for delivering box blanksto an assembly station intermediate the ends of said conveyer, a guide at said station extending over said conveyer and the wrappers carried thereby and having portions so disposed as to act as stops for only the rear and side edges of a box blank manually placed in registration oifa wrapper, guiding means engaging said conveyer accurately to predetermine its path of travel thereby to insure registration of the side edge of each wrapper with said portion of said guide used for registering the side of each of said box blanks on one of said wrappers, and means for operating said conveyer for movement from said station without interference from said guide of a wrapper and a registered box blank adhesively held thereon.

JOHN S. STOKES. 

